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11 April 2010
The England and Manchester City footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips has been the Ambassador of Education for the Children Foundation since 2007.
He has been out to the project twice- in June 2007 and again in June 2008. He is a dedicated fundraiser and has been instrumental in raising awareness for the Foundation as well as holding several events to raise much needed funds. Shaun also sponsors a whole class of primary children.
2010 Guatemala trip
In 2009 Shaun was devastated when his trip was cancelled due to the outbreak of swine flu.
This year Shaun is raring to get back out to the project once again. He is hoping to go out this summer along with fellow team mates Patrick Vieira and Micah Richards and also EFTC's Music Ambassador Taio Cruz.
2008 Guatemala trip
In 2008 Shaun came to visit the project with friends and family. The group got a fantastic welcome from the children who were thrilled to see him!
The hard work began when Shaun got involved with the Chonoy project.
One of the boys in our school had suffered terrible injuries when he was hit by a motorcycle. The Foundation visited his home as he was recovering, and it was glaringly apparent that the Chonoy house was in desperate need of work and was in no fit state for a recovering child like Juan Daniel. Shaun and his family were quick to get involved, and rebuilt the Chonoy Family's house along with a team of high school students and builders. The job included carrying backbreaking loads of concrete up the steep mountain track and Shaun said it was one of the hardest things he has ever done.
Juan Daniel is now back at school - and his family's house is safe and secure.
Another highlight on the 2008 trip was Shaun's volcano climb with a group of high school students. The team climbed Volcan Pacaya which towers over Antigua Guatemala at 2550 metres. They even got up close to molten lava!
If you want to read more about Shaun's experience in Guatemala, take a look at his website where he has written his own account of the experience
2007 Guatemala Trip
In June of 2007 he came over with a TV crew from Chelsea TV to film a documentary which highlighted the huge social problems that exist in Guatemala. He had a packed schedule and was willing to join in with everything. As you can imagine the children loved him!
He visited the homes of some of our poorest children and was visibly shocked and moved at the poverty he witnessed. As part of our initiative to install safe & smoke free stoves in the houses of our children, Shaun assisted the ONIL workers at Jeni's house. As you can imagine there are deadly and debilitating results from constant exposure to this toxic smoke and The World Health Organisation has stated that 'children exposed to the open fires used for cooking in Guatemala will develop permanent lung damage by the age of five'.
We would also like to thank Shaun for all of the time he spent with the children, especially for the 266 shirts he was asked to sign!!
Shaun's Events!
Shaun's Harley Davidson Bike Ride is firmly in our annual events calendar!
Each year Shaun, Wayne Bridge and fellow team mates and friends take to their Harley Davidsons and roar around the streets of London to raise money and get some serious attention for EFTC!
Other events held by Shaun include his 2010 Poker Night and several exclusive auction evenings.
To see more check out our events pages.